DEMAND THE LAPD RELEASE THE BLACK DAHLIA CASE FILE: 
The LAPD Has Withheld Evidence in Elizabeth Short’s Murder for Nearly 80 Years, Including The Only Autopsy in LA History Kept From the Public This Long. 

What Are They Hiding? 

Signature Goal: 500,000

Overview

For nearly 80 years, the murder of Elizabeth Short, also known to the world as The Black Dahlia, has remained one of the most infamous unsolved cases in American history.

Yet critical evidence in her case file continues to be actively and inexplicably withheld by the Los Angeles Police Department. Most notable is Elizabeth Short’s autopsy report, which is the only autopsy – by law a public record – in Los Angeles history that has never been released to the public in nearly 80 years.

This unprecedented delay is a clear obstruction of justice.

Despite the LAPD previously promising to release this essential public record, there has been a runaround and an ultimate refusal. This crucial evidence remains hidden from investigators, surviving family members, and the public nearly eight decades later.

As of today, there have been no prosecutions, no transparency, no answers, and no justice.

The Demand

THE LAPD MUST RELEASE KEY EVIDENCE IN ELIZABETH SHORT’S CASE FILE NOW. 

The Justice Cannot Be Silenced Foundation and Talestorm Productions’ “Deconstructing Dahlia” investigative team are demanding the immediate release of key materials from Elizabeth Short’s case file, and are prepared to fully fund modern forensic testing on these items, which is the final piece to an investigation on the cusp of closure. 

We demand the following be immediately released:

The complete, unredacted autopsy report
The DNA forensics report of a stamp believed to have been licked by the suspect, which we pushed to have tested
Fingerprint records believed to be tied to the suspect

These demands are based on evidence confirmed to exist within the case file by Talestorm’s Deconstructing team’s independent forensic review and consultation with retired LAPD personnel. 

LAPD Agreed to Release Autopsy to Talestorm's Investigative Team, Then Abruptly Reversed Their Decision. WHAT ARE THEY HIDING?

Over the past five years, The Justice Cannot Be Silenced Foundation and Talestorm Productions have conducted an extensive independent investigation alongside former law enforcement professionals, forensic experts, and retired LAPD homicide detectives. The investigation has uncovered substantial new evidence, including what the team believes is confirmation of the actual murder location and evidence pointing toward a primary suspect.

In 2025, after the Talestorm team’s years of formal requests and communication, the LAPD agreed to release Short’s case file during a formal meeting with Talestorm’s Deconstructing team. Accessing the items in this file is crucial to confirming the investigation’s findings. 

Months later, that agreement was suddenly revoked without explanation. Communication stopped. Letters were rejected. The release was blocked. 

The LAPD has repeatedly denied the Short family’s requests for the full unredacted autopsy report and Elizabeth’s possessions, as well as thousands of public record requests for the case file. Nearly 80 years later, the department continues to withhold the autopsy report, which is believed to be the only autopsy report in LA County history that has never been released to the public for this period of time.

Why? What don’t they want the public to know about Elizabeth Short’s murder? Why does the LAPD continue to block the release of the case file after 79 years?

Why This Matters 

Elizabeth Short was 22 years old.

For nearly 80 years, her story has been defined by headlines, speculation, theories, falsified evidence, disappearing evidence, purged or destroyed evidence, and unanswered questions. The continued withholding of this case file does not protect the case; it prolongs its silence. 

Time is running out. Elizabeth Short’s sisters passed away in the last few years without ever learning the truth. Before their death, Talestorm and their Deconstructing team pushed hard to work with the LAPD on this case, only to be denied any information. Multiple key contributors to this investigation are elderly, ill, or have already passed before seeing justice achieved. 

The time for transparency is NOW, before the final witnesses to this history are forever silenced.

Take Action

Sign this petition.
Share it.

Demand accountability.

You can also contact the LAPD directly to voice your support for full transparency:

Los Angeles Police Department
(213) 486-1000 | lapdonline@gmail.com | policecommission@lapd.online

A docuseries titled “Deconstructing Dahlia,” chronicling this investigation, is currently in development, bringing renewed attention to the case, but public pressure is essential to drive real action.

For more information and investigation updates, visit http://www.justicecbs.org/  and http://.talestorm.com

The Short and suspects' families demand that the LAPD release this evidence. Let the truth finally be known and give Elizabeth Short’s family the answers they have been denied for nearly 80 years. Enough silence. Enough secrecy. Enough delay.